Today in History

My son, Michael, celebrates his 25th birthday today. He shares it with a few famous folks. Rod Stewart now 63 years old, Pat Benatar now 55 years old and George Foreman who was born in 1949 making him 59 years old. Foreman, a high school dropout, learned to box in the Job Corps. In 1968 he was the Olympic heavyweight gold medalist. Foreman beat Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight crown in 1973 and defended the title twice before losing to Muhammad Ali. He retired to the ministry in 1977, but launched a comeback in 1987, losing a title fight at age 43. In 1994 Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles and become the world's oldest heavyweight champion, but he was stripped of the WBA crown in 1995 and relinquished the IBF title the same year.

On a much more serious note, yesterday January 9, marks the 25th anniversary of the last time Brainerd had a commercial plane crash that killed one and seriously injured another. My friend Ellie's sister, Barbara, just so happened to survive that plane crash. Republic Airlines Flight # 927, Minneapolis-St Paul - Brainerd, Convair 580-11A, 33 (passengers:30 crew:3), Fatalities: 1 (passengers:1 crew:0), The plane landed 1,725 feet beyond the runway threshold, right wing down, veered to the right until the right propeller struck a 2 to 3 foot snow bank. The blade separated from the engine and penetrated the cabin. Proper alignment not attained by pilot in command. Terrain condition, snow bank. Lack of NOTAM. Improper snow removal.

Snowshoeing

This past weekend it really warmed up here. We went snowshoeing on Saturday.
If you see snow all over me it may be from a fall.

Correction: Seattle and Green Bay will play next Saturday 4:30pm EST in Green Bay not in Seattle as I earlier said.

Seahawks kick some Redskin ass!!!!

What an awesome game! Seattle 35 Redskins 14. At one point I thought maybe the Redskins was going to pull it off. But no way. Seattle is going forward to play the Greenbay Packers in Seattle next weekend. Now that will be a game. I'm rooting for Seattle but question if they have what it takes to go against Farve.

My nationality is mainly Irish and Norwegian with a dash of English and I would guess a few other things. I've tried living up to my Irish roots by loving a pint of ale on most any occasion. This St. Patricks day I'll be in St. Paul for the celebrations. Next St. Patricks day I'll be in Ireland. That being said, in effort to live up to my Norwegian roots I've tried cooking some things in Norwegian tradition. I just finally figured out lefse. It took me awhile and a few resources. My friend Bonnie Franke helped tremendously. She gave me all the important tips and a real good recipe. When I went to buy the equipment I ended up at Chef and Company, a kitchen store here in Baxter. Chef and Company has all the kitchen gadgets you can dream up and they also have a huge actual kitchen where they conduct cooking classes and demonstrations. It just so happened that when I walked in there a lady was in the kitchen making lefse. After speaking with her I found out that the very next day they were having a free lefse "clinic". So the next day I went over there and they put an apron on me and let me use their stuff to cook lefse. They even let me take my creations home. So I thought I was all ready. I had all the equipment minus the actual lefse griddle. I used a griddle I already had. But my grittle didn't get hot enough and the lesfe was just okay. It dries out if you don't cook it hot and fast enough. So now I'm on the lookout for a lefse griddle. Walmart had them at Christmas time for around $70.00. I haven't been back since before the holidays so I don't know if they still have any but I'm thinking if they do they may be marked down. I'll have to check it out.

The other Norwegian thing I want to properly cook is potato dumplings called coumpa (Koom-pa) or klub (cloob). My sister Lorrie has been making them for years. I tried it for the first time last year and on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say I scored an eight. But this year I think I can improve on them. I received a Kitchen Aide mixer and the grinder attachment as gifts and I'm hoping that they may help.

NFL Playoff Bracket

I do not see the Minnesota Vikings listed on this playoff bracket. Huh. They stink. They blew it. Brad texted me last night from the game in Denver. Where he proudly waltzed in in a purple jersey and left totally deflated and disgusted. His last text simply said "Jackson Sucks". Well said Brad, well said.

Anyone that knows me, knows that New England is a favorite and of course Brett "I'm crying again" Favre is a fantastic QB. So I'll be leaning that way. I always cheer for the Seahawks but don't know how they'll fair against Greenbay, if they get past the Redskins, who seem to be on fire right now.

Kim's forecast says Patriots vs Packers for Superbowl 42 in Glandale Arizona February 3rd.

Cruise'n the Pacific

The holidays are over (HALLELUJAH). My old ass is about wore out. Now I'm sick with a soar throat and my head has some sinus/cold thing. So you may detect a whiny, feel sorry for myself tone. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. A Mexican Riviera cruise leaving January 13th. Makita, his dad Jim and myself will be flying to San Diego on Saturday January 12th and sailing on the Princess Dawn on Sunday January 13th. We'll shove off at 4:00 PM, Monday the 14th we'll be at sea all day, Tuesday the 15th we'll be in Cabo San Lucas from 8:00AM to 6:00PM, Wednesday the 16th we'll be Mazatlan from 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Thursday the 17th we'll be in Puerto Vallarta from 8:00AM to 10:00PM, then Friday and Saturday the 18th and 19th we'll be at sea all day and Sunday the 20th we'll wake up in San Diego. Sounds like Una cerveza, por favor. Uno? No, mucho cervaza, por favor.

Holiday Funnies!

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/aKHLN5pgwfQZ9TwVztNROFYc


http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/mpAeP6M1pnSLoL80pH4VcDfq

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas (hey, my sista's a ho)...just kidding Lorrie. I just love saying it.

The Marketron Brainerd Office party is now winding down. The potluck was a little boring with just the meatballs. The cookie exchange was a little boring with just my one dozen cookies. But I did win the decorating contest with my window decorations shown above.

Okay, so having a Christmas celebration in the Marketron Brainerd office wasn't the best idea because I'm the only person in the Brainerd office. But I loved my secret Santa gift. Yep I got a Jeff Gordon Bobble Head and a Jeff Gordon fishing spoon.

So now all that's left is the cocktail party. WooHoo!!

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? LaborDay?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips: start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO- HOO what a ride!

~Happy Holidays~

Brainerd Office Celebration Con't

Things are still progressing with the Marketron Brainerd office holiday celebration. The cookie exchange is today. I brought in a dozen cookies for each person that signed up. Well that would be just me. So in other words I'll be eating a dozen of my own cookies for lunch today. I've put a few items in the food shelf collection box. We will be distributing that on Friday.

I put a stuffed Raven dog in the Toys for Tots collection box.

Christmas Party signup sheets are up!

There's sign up sheets posted in the office for the cookie exchange and the potluck lunch. Deadline to sign up for the cookie exchange is today.

Secret Santa Gift

Just between you and me, the person I drew for the Secret Santa gift exchange loves NASCAR and Jeff Gordon specifically. So I put together a couple items to give them during the Secret Santa gift exchange next week.

The "Ox Spoon" with Jeff's picture is a great lure that is ideal for casting and trolling for most game fish. And the Jeff Gordon Bobble Head with laser-scanned likeness, highly detailed artwork and a real-life pose is a gift sure to please.

A few of us from the Brainerd Office got Elfed

Hey folks check out this link for a laugh:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1304899873

Tenitive Christmas Party Plans

The Brainerd Marketron Office Christmas Office Party Committee met yesterday and discussed at length what we should do this year. We've decided to extend the party out for all of next week. Here are some of the items we plan to do:

1. Secret Santa

2. Cubicle Christmas Decorating Contest

3. Cookie Exchange

4. Potluck Lunch

5. Toys for Tots drive

6. Food Shelf drive

7. Cocktail Hour

So far the only thing set in stone is the Cocktail Hour, which we'll have at 3:30PM on Friday December 21st. We still have somemore planning to do for the rest of the events.

Marketron Broadcast Solutions, Brainerd Office, Christmas Party

Well we're in the planning stages of the Brainerd Office Christmas Party. I've been appointed the chairman of the planning committee. I'll keep you posted to what we're planning.

Can you say "Par-Tay

Well considering we got a foot of snow Saturday, Makita's 40th was quite a success. There were a lot of people that braved the snowy drive and showed up to celebrate. The biggest surprise was when my sister Lorrie and our friend Starla (aka: Stormy) showed up from Wyoming. Well actually they had driven four hours from Casper to Denver and then flown from Denver into Minneapolis on Friday. Then they went down to Benson to see my brother. Then on Saturday during the big old blizzard they drove up to Brainerd from Benson (under normal conditions a 3 hour drive). So we were pretty surprised to see them to say the least.

As the night progressed there were many rounds of shots. Last count Makita had 10 shots of various kinds. Here's his second of Patron tequila.

Here we have Jessi and Mike helping Makita out with a little Village People YMCA (missing the A and spelled backwards) .

Ahhhhh.....a shot of Bushmills Irish Whiskey (a gift from Lorrie and Brad) for some of the Irishmen in the group.

Grandma Piggy turned into quite the dart player.

Lorrie and Kimkay, water and soda, designated drivers.

Shep, Makita and Lorrie doing a shot of Patron (hey wait...wasn't Lorrie a driver?).

A round of Scoobie Snacks for the whole bar! Cheers! (hey wait, do I see those two drivers?)

You can't have a party at Shep's without a big Elbow initiation. Here's a bunch of folks that got their Elbow cards (now up over 13,000 members) and threw their dollars on the ceiling to help pay for the Elbow Convention this next August.

Shirley played the Accordion for us. That was a big huge treat. She played at Makita's 21st birthday too but he didn't hear it...cause he was puking in the dumpster at the time.

Daughter Tonya, Daughter in-law Jessi and friend Robin. You can see the girls are having fun.

Oh no... look who showed up. I do believe it's the Grim Reaper. Happy Birthday Makita!

You're invited.....

I realize this is hard to read, but let me translate. "You're invited to join Dave Cox in celebrating his 40th birthday. When: Saturday Dec 1, 2007. Stop by anytime after 6pm. Where: Shep's on 6th Brainerd (21 and over only). There'll be snacks, birthday cake and a cash bar".

I hope to see you there!

Kixter's Holiday Program

Saturday I went to the Kixter's Holiday Program. Grandaughter Kaylie tap danced to a song called Happy Feet. I did a big dumb Grandma thing though. When I first saw her I told her she looked so cute as a duck. I got in trouble for that one. She's a penguin.

Gobble Gobble...gobble it up!

Kimkay's Sports Update

The Brainerd Warrior football team's season comes to an end. This past Thursday night they lost the Minnesota State Class 5A Semifinal game against the Cretin Derham Hall Raiders. I listened to the game and it was interesting but a disappointing loss of 56-14.

The Minnesota Vikings won yesterday (miracle) when they played against the Oakland Raiders. I wish I had more to say on this besides they suck.

The Minnesota Wild regained the lead in the Northwest Division with a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center. As you know I cheer for the Avs 1st, Minnesota second. It's going to be a fun season with them remaining so close to each other in points.

And that leaves NASCAR. The season is now officially over. I'm already feeling a little withdrawal. Jeff Gordon ended up second and Jimmy Johnson took the Championship ...again...two years in a row. The last driver to do that was..... you got it... Jeff Gordon in 1997 and 1998. The Hendrick organization is so strong right now. It's going to be very interesting to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. come over to Hendrick and drive the 88 car next year.

The Nextel Cup Championship Awards Ceremony will be held in New York City Friday November 30th.

Going to See Urban and Allan

I look like I'm scared to death. I'm actually unable to breath. Keith Urban....wow! This was taken awhile back but tomorrow night we'll be at the Exel Center in St. Paul rock'n with Keith (the best smelling guy I've ever sniffed) and Gary Allan. Keith is such a talent, especially on any kind of stringed instrument. Nicole...you're one lucky lady.

I just love Gary. His voice is unmatched. I try to see Gary every chance I get. I think this will be my fourth or fifth time.

A few less cheeseburgers kimkay!

Well Jimmy Johnson won his fourth race in a row to pretty much clinch the Nextel Cup Championship yesterday. Everyone was mathematically eliminated except Jeff Gordon, who is 86 points behind Jimmy. Even Jeff himself said it's over. Jimmy would have to crash early and Jeff would have to win during the final race next weekend. Not likely.

Minnesota Vikings...ha. If you haven't heard they lost to Green Bay 0 to 34. And their star player Peterson was injured.

My Avs stomped on the Minnesota Wild last night 4 to 2. I couldn't find it televised anywhere, which was disappointing. I think they only cover games here in Minnesota.

But here's the best news. 15th ranked Brainerd won their game Friday night against 6th ranked Wayzata. What an exciting game. I listened to it on the radio. Now they go on to play 2nd ranked Cretin-Derham Hall this Thursday night at the Metro Dome.